Its fossilised remains show it had sharp claws, triggering comparisons with the 1990 film.

The animal would have lived in shallow seas similar to modern coastal environments off the coast of British Columbia in Canada.

Johnny Depp in the Tim Burton classic

PhD student David Legg said: "When I first saw the pair of isolated claws in the fossil records of this species I could not help but think of Edward Scissorhands.

"Even the genus name, Kootenichela, includes the reference to this film as ‘chela’ is Latin for claws or scissors. In truth, I am also a bit of a Depp fan and so what better way to honour the man than to immortalise him as an ancient creature that once roamed the sea?”